Friday Finds and Reader Recommendations – January 6th 2017

Okay you guys!!! I just finished my awesome latest dark read (Hidden Bodies: A Novel <— and yes, I LOVED it) so I’ll be reviewing later today, and no matter what, I WILL be reading the follow-up. I don’t even care that it ended in a cliffhanger, I’m wickedly (and not in a good way ’cause some are crazy!!!!) attached to the characters. UPDATE!!! I’VE REVIEWED HIDDEN BODIES!!

But next up for me, is Wolfsong <— one of the most repeated “2016″ favorites from my most-trusted book buddies and I KNOW I cut-out too early when I first one-clicked and started it. The way you guys are going on about Wolfsong, I HAVE to find out what all the fuss is about. I KNOW I’m missing out, and lucky for me, I’m going back in!

Fabi: Nothing has measured up since Wolfsong. …Everyone I know who has read it has loved it. It went straight into my favorites. I wish I could wave my magic wand and convince everyone to read it. I don’t push books often. But Wolfsong simply must be read.

R: WOLFSONG!!!! Hand’s down, not even a question. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. And this one Fabi did recommend. XOXOXO!

Fabi: Gah! R! Wolfsong. That book is everywhere lately. Maybe it will nudge Maryse into giving it another shot.

MichelleS: WOLFSONG! I will never forget these characters, the werwolf lore, the story… the FEELS… just loved the heck out of this book.

bev: I’m reading Wolfsong right now and it’s wonderful. I love when they meet as children.

MichelleS: You see that Maryse? She picked Wolfsong too!!! LOL. Have we all convinced you yet?

Jennifer: I loved Wolfsong as well….definitely a masochist!

bev: We want Maryse to read Wolfsong. Can say that even though it is the year of zen cause it’s a Fabi book not a bev book.

R: Wolfsong…that book is in my skin like a rash. It’s sitting under my Christmas tree right now and it’s killing me not to open it and put it on my pretty new shelves. ONE MORE DAY. The phrase “kid at Christmas” really means something when you love books.

Kelly: The book gods have decided to make 2017 a stupendous year for me. Why? Because the book I decided to start my year with is Wolfsong. I am only 1/2 way through but I know I will NEVER forget this book. The writing is beautifully simple but undeniably profound. It is heart wrenching but is also make-me-laugh-out-loud funny. (Joe’s idea of courting? Come on!). This group is like my “book pack” so I hope you can hear me howl my song of love and joy and join in and share the love.

Now… take a look at what else we found! (NOTE: some are bargain priced when I added them, but prices can change on Amazon, so make sure to check before you finalize your order. Sales listed are for Amazon U.S., however some of the Amazon UK links also reflect the sale!):

Morgana: I definitely recommend the Captive Prince trilogy by C.S. Pacat. It’s a genre all on it’s own, deals with two princes, power play, complex characters, slavery, hidden identities and a great freaking plot.

Sister Sister: A gripping psychological thriller by Sue Fortin <—- LIVE!!! PSYCH-THRILLER ALERT! These sisters appear to hate each other… “Clare thinks Alice is a manipulative liar who is trying to steal her life. Alice thinks Clare is jealous of her long-lost return and place in their family. One of them is telling the truth. The other is a maniac.“

Silver Bay: A Novel by JoJo Moyes <— JOJO MOYES SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!! (thank you for finding it, Amy!!!) “Liza McCullen will never fully escape her past. But the unspoiled beaches and tight-knit community of Silver Bay offer the freedom and safety she craves—if not for herself, then for her young daughter, Hannah. That is, until Mike Dormer arrives as a guest in her aunt’s hotel…“

The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz <— TIFFANY REISZ SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!! I hear it’s got that family saga Back on the list ’cause it’s still at that amazing price, and so many think this one is AMAZING!!! And my friend Natasha went CRAZY for this one!!!Natasha: I sure did!! It’s an amazing page-turner, with an incredibly provocative and unexpected storyline, and written so so beautifully. I can’t recommend it highly enough.Sally: One of my favorites for 2016! Loved it!

What She Knew: A Novel by Gilly Macmillan <— PSYCH-THRILLER SUPER-BARGAIN THAT I TOTALLY JUST ONE-CLICKED!!! She’s newly divorced and her young son disappears while he’s with her… “…Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion. As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment…” EEEEEEEP!!!!

Big Rock: (A Sexy Standalone Contemporary Romance) by Lauren Blakely <— LAUREN BLAKELY SEXY FAKE RELATIONSHIP SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!! “…he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock...”

Pia: Finished Big Rock a few days ago. A very sweet, fun, sexy and safe read – no angst here. But Lauren Blakely when she is best

Anne: Pia I loved Big Rock! So fun! I love when books are from the guys POV. They always crack me up lol

Ann: That was my ugly cry book of 2016. Like you, Lisa, I tend to stay clear of the “hurty” books. But once in a while I let one thorough, and damn if it WWL didn’t kill me. There I was cruising along, enjoying a nice little YA read, until BAM! Biggest twist ever. I cried. Like a child.

Tasha: What? We Were Liars is an ugly cry?? Yikes I’m reading that one now and I’m already too invested to stop. I have ideas though, here’s too hoping I don’t get punched! Lol.

Amy: That one had a bit of a sucker-punch in it, right? Fellow YA lovers (I’m lookin’ at you, bev and Fabi ) should give it a shot.

Maryse: What what whaaaaaaaat?? How come I’ve never heard of We Were Liars until Lisa’s list? AMY!!!!

Amy: Er…ummmmm…crap, Maryse. I didn’t mention it before because…because…*sigh* I don’t know why. *shrug* I thought I had? Here, have a lemon meringue martini!!! *pushes martini into Maryse’s hands* It had a nice sucker-punch but didn’t make me ugly cry. It kind of had a Jellicoe Road feel to it (not the same plot, just the same kind of melancholy and “what happened”), and fortunately the way it played out actually worked. It could have been a disaster had it not been written well, but it WAS written well so I can honestly say it’s a rec.

An Exaltation of Larks by Suanne Laqueur <—- OMG IT’S EVEN MORE SUPER=BARGAIN PRICED!!!! You guys!!!! This was one of my most favorite books of the year, and that of SO many of our fellow readers. READ THIS!!! READ THIS!!! READ THIS!!!!!!!!!! You’ll get it. Awesome writing, amazing, intense,, heart wrenching and uplifting story, and HOT AS ALL GET OUT!!!! Just sayin’ (my review!!!)

Grey: Wow, I finished An Exaltation of Larks… I get it now.

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Maryse, I am pretty freakin excited that you’re giving Wolfsong another go. FEEL the colors. Feel the love. Ox, he’s not the brightest cookie in the jar, but maybe he’s the sweetest. And Joe, he’s damaged, but maybe not beyond repair. Why do the butterflies still riot in my tummy every time I hear this book mentioned?

(Biting my nails nervously)… I’m SCARED you’re not gonna love it! You have to be “in the mood” for it. It’s just so special. This is like when Bev convinced you to read Written in Red. We love these people (Ox, Joe & the crew) and so you have to treat them with care.

Maryse… I could buddy read Wolfsong with you, if you want. *shyly toes the snow up here* I was going to save it for one of my challenge months…but I’m getting antsy, haha!

MichelleS, An Exaltation of Larks is sort of confusing at first… but you’ll get it. It’s not that kind of complicated that you can’t sort everyone out. It’s one of those magnum opus kind of reads. I was intimidated too…but it was worth it.

I know I’m nervous now too.
And funny cause we were just talking about this on GR, when you love a book others don’t and vice versa.
But we all agreed that we want to know the truth.
Even if Fabi basically told us we need to pull our big girl socks on cause the book conversation is most important.
Though you did mortally wound me, Maryse when you dnf’d Jellicoe Road.
*grabs big girl sock and holds it over bleeding heart wound*

Maryse, I know you did. And do not expect you to keep trying, I was just kidding.
There are just books that do not work for others. I love reading all the lists and yet almost everyone has a book I did not like or never want to try. *shrug*
It’s what makes it so interesting.

What is it that makes us want others to read the books we loved?
I keep thinking about how happy I am when someone reads one of my faves…..incredibly nervous, but happy and excited.
It is just kind of funny.
I have a few books in my tbr that are on some of the favorites list and some from last year’s lists too. I have two in my library stack right now.
I’m going to have to try and read those, more of those, this year.
And now off to read a bit and then a nice cold walk, lol.

Yes bev. I think it’s about sharing the love. We got so much enjoyment out of that special book, we want to others to feel it too, to share what we felt. I’m the same. I get excited and nervous when I know someone is going to read a fav of mine. It kind of makes us vulnerable – we’re putting our feelings and opinions out there, to possibly be shot down :-/ but possibly to be reinforced.

Okay, I have to see what all this Suanne Laqueur fuss is all about. One-clicked An Exaltation of Larks
I’m curious about Wolfsong as well, but is it a PNR book? I’m not into paranormal no matter how awesome a book is.

Were you talking about Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta? In Australia Kellog’s has a promotion at the moment to get a free book for every 2 cereal boxes. Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca are 2 I am getting. Should get some books for the kids next.

lol R. I’m reading sci-fi for that month’s challenge. An ARC that’s been patiently waiting its turn. I’m not sure I have The Raven Boys on my tbr, but it looks interesting. I wouldn’t mind reading it even if it wasn’t part of my reading challenge.

If January goes according to plan, I will have read 4 from my tbr. Crazy though it may sound, that’s a good feeling.

Yay bev! But yes, it’s a series. Little worried about that myself LOL.

Ugh the ice. We don’t get snow days, we get ice days! Surprised we haven’t had one yet!

Three things:
1. Our water froze so we have none until after noon.
2. I’m almost finished beta’ing S. Ann Cole’s new book and it’s awesome!
3. I wish I would have bought Amityville on kindle instead of paperback so I could read in the dark

The only book I can think of that gave me similar feels to New Moon was the second Eden book by Nicole Williams. I swear I had an ache in my chest throughout the entire thing…and I loved every second of it.

Just finished Marriage Games and Separation Games and loved them. It kept me on edge wondering how this would end. Dominant H and ? submissive h. Now not sure what to read. It’s snowing here so good time to read and I still need to go thru and read previous posts and comments. The holidays and back to work got in the way!!

3 things:
1. It’s snowing here!
2. I still need to look at the monthly challenge on GR.-I’m not very good at challenges and/or “set” things have to do.
3. My son goes back to college tomorrow.

Wow all this talk of snow has me jealous! It’s the middle of summer here and it’s HOT! 10.30 am and I’m trying to tell myself, noooo, you do not need to turn on the air conditioner this early……. I HATE these hot nights when you just toss and turn. Forecast for today is 38 (centigrade=about 100F) Ugh! It actually never snows in my part of Australia, although we do get hard frosts in winter.

My February challenge read is sci-fi – Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. It’s had great reviews and I’ve loved his other books, so I don’t know why I’ve had it sitting in my tbr for so long. Maybe because it’s so loooong. Most of his books are though.

I don’t think the one in the oviedo was bad looking. He looked like an elf.
I’m not sure that all books should be adapted though it can be fun to “see” it.
Some of my books I enjoy…..I just don’t think would translate well.

Two shows I got into this year are Hart of Dixie, just a feel good slightly goofy show.
And Pitch which is awesome.

Yeah Fabi I’ve heard from others the book peters off a bit towards the end after a great start. But it’s one of my tbr crushing reads and I’m determined!! *throws shoulders back and draws in a deep breath in readiness for February 1*

Tessa! Holy crap woman! Thank you so much for encouraging me to read Red Queen. Fanfreakintastic! It easily stands up against the greats in the genre.

I want to go to go straight into book 2 so bad! Ugh! Commitments…

Plus, I simply don’t read as fast as you do so there’s no sneaking it in tonight before tomorrow’s scheduled BR. Waaaaaaaa I really want to read as fast as you do. I could tackle half my tbr this year.

Tessa…I saw a commercial for Shadowhunters after your comment and while watching the Twilight marathon. Yeah, I like that Jace. And I’m glad to see the h (Clary?) has true red hair and not auburn like in the movie.

Okay, this will probably sound odd but hearing too much from an author about the book makes the characters in their book less real to me. Gah, how can I explain this…it’s like, the characters are “real-ish” people to me, and I KNOW someone wrote the book, but that’s just a name on the cover to me. Seeing the author talk about the characters or the plot or whatever takes away the “magic” of getting lost in the story and makes it feel less like it is has really happened and as if the characters are real. Totally not fair to the authors, but…it is what it is.

Um, yeah. So.

Ahem.

I’m just gonna *thumbs over shoulder* go drink some more apple-pear martinis…

I can totally see that before reading, but after, if it’s a book I’m obsessed with, like Fish for example, I want to inhale anything and everything I can about it. But yeah, before it would be weird, plus I wouldn’t care yet.

R. It’s Bear Otter and the Kid. It hit all kinds of lists. In fact, it’s the first time I recall seeing an mm book in popular book lists. Not that I read it then. Not for years. In fact, not until after I joined Maryse’s. Neither the cover nor the title appealed to me. Especially since I didn’t read mm back then.

Fabi, I have a sample of that on my phone along with that other one with the weird name I told you I was trying. I picked the other one because I’m a cover slut. But I have every intention of reading it. I have 2 books going now, but then I hope to get back to the other one. And remember when I said I couldn’t see his writing style with a different book than Wolfsong? I can.

It’s like years and years ago I made a random pull from the library. Anne Perry. I enjoyed the first book so Google to look up the rest of the series. Now I can not read the rest.
Then I’ve seen romance authors that I enjoy who have said some chappy things on social media or been like mean girls. *sigh*
Not as bad as the above obviously. And sometimes have to be like
..ok that’s your opinion ….I guess.
Then a couple authors I haven’t read and hear things and now like, yeah don’t know if I can read you now.

Ohhhhhhhhhh! I was thinking of something totally different. Oh no. I’ve seen sh!tty “writers” say/do some ugly things on social media, just last night actually, that I am not OK with (and in the case I’m referring to, it wasn’t even the author, but the PA). Yes, that would affect my enjoyment. But, I don’t want to be in the dark either. If a writer is a bully on SM, I want to know it. Even if it changes my opinion of their books.

R…..it’s the start of your next bbook.
An f/f.
Older heroines.
One is just full of love to give but also paranoid and emotional.
The other has a broken heart she keeps bubble wrapped. She can not deal with too much emotion.

Yep I’m paranoid. Sometimes. When it comes to people I care about. I don’t like to offend people I care bout.

People I don’t really know? Different story. Hey, pun there. Maybe not. Yep not. I try to be nice to everyone but if I don’t have feels for the person and they piss me off…my inner bitch comes out to play.

And if they do something to hurt someone I DO care about…all bets are off, gloves are off, earrings are off. And it’s ON!

Haha, thanks for trying Amy but I haven’t worn nail polish in like 4 years and that was just bc I was in a wedding! I hate it. Lol. Yes, I loved it Bev!! And I bet you would too. I’m not good at explaining books except on the vaguest of terms for fear of spoiling, but I highly recommend!

*hands Tasha Manny* Ask Amy for a drink, since I seem to have stolen her apple pearl martini. Just… Make sure not to make eye contact if she mentions nail polish.

Amy, isn’t that Jace yummy? And yes! Clare is a real redhead. The kid from glee, who was an awesome dancer, he plays Magnus. The rest are awesome too. The only exception is “Jace’s dad” because he does not pull off magnetic like he’s supposed to.

I really hate reading about people who hurt each other is spite of loving each other. I hate to see a young couple waste years of their lives running away from a relationship they can’t recreate with anyone else.

While I’m reading, I get to the point where I hate both characters. I hate their stupidity, their stubbornness, and their weakness.

_——-

ok, now I’ve gotten that off my chest, back to your regularly scheduled progam

But I just finished it. It’s a great story. Just not my thing. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell from blurbs and reviews if a particular angsty/emotional story will be one that I like or don’t like until I start reading it.

Bev, I have to refresh each time. Been happening for a couple days now.

Me too bev when I’m on my laptop and click right (away as soon as I get an email). I’m on my phone now and didn’t realize I had an email, so when I clicked on the link, it came right up. Don’t know if it’s because the post is older or if it’s because I’m on the mobile site.

Fabi, it kind of makes me want to read it, lol. How much does music play a part?
I think by next weekend or so I want to start Bitter Legacy. I guess one of the H is not that likable. But I saw it on 2 or so best of and suppose to be very well written. Has my curiosity piqued.

I’m not even trying email. It stopped working then worked for a couple weeks then stopped again. Oh, well.
R, do you know when you are going to start Raven Boys in Feb?
Tessa we are still doing a BR right of Wintersong? Though you’ll finish days ahead, lol. We need to rope MichelleS in with us, it is a Goblin King.

It doesn’t surprise me at all bev. Me saying I hated a book for being too emotional is like catnip around here. All the kitties cone out to play.

That darn book sat in my tbr forever. Reviews were of the type either/or. Love or hate. With few, if any, in the middle. For me, it’s a high rating for a well written, well executed and original plot. But my review will probably be full of spoilers of why I “didn’t” like it.

The music aspect is what finally convinced me to read it. It’s a thread through the story, but a minor one. One of the MCs plays the piano and even sings a few times. He majors in music, etc. But I would hesitate from calling it so much as a subplot. More like a major characteristic of an MC. So I was a little let down that it didn’t play a more significant role.

Android mobile for me. My issue is when I get an email update that there is a new post and I click on the link to take me there, the website page opens to the last copy of the page I viewed instead of taking me to a refreshed page view with the new post. I have to manually refresh the page to see the new posts.

Ok, this might be be my own oversight. But I read the comments then commented. Then Fabi had a comment up there I had not seen after the refresh. Now, I probably just overlooked it, especially when we are talking a lot. But it felt like it just popped in, between two comments I’d already read, out of the blue.

I mainly use my laptop and I notice if I get an email notification that there is a new comment, I click on the link but the comment isn’t there. I refresh the page and it appears. I really can’t speak for my mobile as I don’t use it often enough to know what’s normal.

I mainly use my laptop and Safari, but I haven’t been having any issues lately since they fixed up the thing where our names and email addresses kept disappearing from the Leave a comment box. Working fine now. Although I have the site bookmarked and don’t usually click in from the emails (which I’m still receiving btw).

About Me

I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. [ read more ]